Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-12-08
FAMILIAR MAylMs.

There Is no printed collection
known to the writer at least-of thl
msxims, proverbs and trite saying
current in our own country. Ye
probably no other people indulge il
them to a greater extent. While som'
Of these are universal and older thar
the Christian era a majority are Of I
more recent origin. more in accordance
with the spirit of the age and will
our own peculiar characteristics as I
people. American characteristics and
institutions are at once unique anC
original, differing in many respectl
from anything the world ever saw De
fore. The Persians, with their dreamy
speculative philosophy, would fail t.
see the pith or force of American wise
saws, nor could we any better appre
ciate their cumbersome sayings.
Wise-saws are the literature OF rea
son; the condensed thought of the
public mind: the wisdom OF many, tht
wit of one. To the ancients they
were both philosophy and religion
and even among moderns they go un
challenged, though many OF them are
pa,pably false. Such is their curren'
cy and force that they serve to parry
a thrust or clinch an argument, and
thrice armed is he who hath whole
flights of them at his command.
The :ollowing were picked up al
random and arranged alphabetically
under the general term Of Wise
saws :"
A little folly now and then is rel
ished by the best OF men.
y game is never won until it's end
ed.
\ fair exchange is no robbery.
a burnt child avoids the fire.
4 shoemaker should stick to his
last.
i bad oath is better broken than
kept.
\ stitch in time saves nine.
\ short horse is soon curried.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
A setting hen never grows tat.
A watched pot never boils.
A miss is as good as mile.
A bird in hand is worth two in a
bush.
4 smooth sea never makes skillful
mariners.
\ rotten apple infects its cOmpan'
ions.
\ guilty conscience needs no accu.
ser.
y drowning man catches at straws
\ new broom sweeps clean.
y fool for luck.
y penny saved is as good as pen
ny earned.
y dead Injun is good Injun. "A
Westerner
\ foo. and his money are soon part,
ed.
A barking dog seldom bites.
\ friend in need is friend indeed
\ stream cannot rise higher than
It's fountain.
\ quiet tongue makes a wise head
An idle brain is the DEVILS work
shop.
IN honest man is the noblest work
Of cod.
IN honest confession is good for the
SOU.
IN ounce OF prevention is worth a
pound OF cure.
All is fish that comes to my net.
All is not gold that glitters.
All is we'll that ends well.
All is fair in love or war.
As many opinions as people.
As the old cock crows the young
one learns.
As the twig is bent the tree is in
cliued.
As you raise them so you have them
,Childrenl.
rs we'll be out of the world as ou
Of fashion.
Artists are born, not made.
Accidents will happen in the bes
Of families.
Accidents are the result ofcareless
ness.
Always kick the dog that's under
An old iox Is not easy caught.
\ cheerful spirit sweetens toll.
Better wear out than rust out.
Better let we'll enough alone.
Better late than never.
Better the day, better the deed.
Better have two cooks than on
doctor.
Better be at the end Of feast tha
at the beginning OF fray.
Better to have the good will eve
Of a dos.
Better to have two strings for OF
bow.